Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Detained at a U.S. Port of Entry (for Lawful Permanent Residents)

April 24, 2026

Updated for 2025: Heightened Enforcement at Ports of Entry Like all international travelers, lawful permanent residents (LPRs)—also known as Green Card holders—are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) when arriving at an airport or land port of entry. While LPRs enjoy greater rights than nonimmigrants when

Visa Retrogression Explained: Differences Between Retrogression and Backlogs

March 19, 2026

Visa retrogression is a situation where the Department of State (“DOS”) adjusts the Final Action Date and Dates For Filing backwards on the DOS monthly Visa Bulletin. This occurs when the demand for immigrant visas in a specific visa category exceeds the estimated supply, causing applicants who were previously eligible

Do You Need an Immigration Lawyer to File a K-1 Visa for Your Vietnamese Fiancé?

March 13, 2026

A common question asked by potential clients is: “Do I need an immigration lawyer to file a K-1 visa for my Vietnamese fiancé/fiancée?” While the short answer is no, having an immigration lawyer represent you and your fiancé through the K-1 visa process has significant advantages. The Benefit of a

What is a B-1 Domestic Employee Visa and How Does it Work?

March 6, 2026

A B-1 domestic employee visa permits certain foreign domestic workers to temporarily accompany their employer to the United States to manage household or other domestic services. The visa is narrowly defined and carefully regulated. It applies only when there is an established employment relationship and when the employer’s stay in

Vietnamese Names Listed Incorrectly on U.S. Visas and Green Cards

February 18, 2026

United States government posts have frequently listed Vietnamese citizens’names on government documents incorrectly such as on visas and Form I-551 (“Green Cards”.) This often happens because Vietnamese passports list names in the order of last name (or “family name” or “surname”) followed by the middle name and then the first

Are K-1 Fiancé(e) Visas Affected by Trump’s 2025 Immigration Policies?

December 13, 2025

With the return of the Trump administration in 2025, many couples are asking the critical question: “Are K-1 Fiancé(e) visas (hereinafter “fianc(é)”) affected by Trump’s new immigration policies?” While there is currently no outright ban on K-1 fianc(é) visas, applicants should be prepared for significant changes in processing, increased

What Does A 214(b) Refusal Mean in U.S. Immigration Law?

October 14, 2025

A 214(b) refusal in U.S. immigration law refers to a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) that is often cited when a U.S. consular officer denies a nonimmigrant visa application. This section is often seen with individuals applying for B-1/ B-2 Visitor Visas but it is applicable

Nonimmigrant Visa Dropbox Renewal Eligibility Reverts Back to Pre-COVID Standards

February 18, 2025

Effective immediately, the United States Department of State (“DOS”) has revised the requirements for interview waiver eligibility (commonly referred to as dropbox eligibility) to applicants renewing a nonimmigrant visa in the classification that expired within the past twelve (“12”) months. Previously, some nonimmigrant visa applicants were eligible to renew through

What is a K-3 Nonimmigrant visa?

November 7, 2024

A K-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States while their Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (“I-130 Petition”) is undergoing adjudication with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). The goal of a K-3 is to

USCIS Updates Guidance for F and M Nonimmigrant Visa Classification

October 1, 2024

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has updated its guidance effective immediately regarding when students who are in either F or M nonimmigrant visa classification may be eligible for Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) extensions for Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (“STEM”) field. The updated guidance, which is found

Must a Grenadian citizen that is applying for an E-2 Treaty Trader visa have a residence in Grenada?

May 22, 2019

There is no law or regulation that requires an E-2 Treaty Trader visa applicant to have “residence” in the country of citizenship. We have represented many E-2 investors who do not live or maintain a residence or a resident address in the qualifying treaty country. At the time of this

Announcement: U.S. State Department Enacts New Rules on Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Requests

May 10, 2019

As of May 6, 2019, the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) new rules went into effect concerning consular officers recommending a waiver if a nonimmigrant visa applicant is ineligible under Section 212(d)(3)(A)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under the new rule, consular officers will be required to refer

Extending Your American Visa. Is it Possible?

May 8, 2019

American visa validity depends on a person’s nationality. For example, Vietnamese citizens are given a maximum of a one-year multiple-entry visa. Other neighboring countries such as the Philippines and Thailand are eligible for a maximum of 10 years multiple-entry visas while Cambodian citizens receive up to three-months double entry validity.

What medical conditions would cause you to be denied an immigrant visa?

May 3, 2019

Part 1 – a communicable disease of public health significance This is a common question we are asked. This Part 1 of a series discusses what medical conditions might cause a person to be denied an immigrant visa. The United States Immigration and Naturalization Act (the “Act”), Section 212(a)(1) prescribes

What are some of the questions that the consular officer might ask during a tourist visa interview?

May 2, 2019

While the consular officer has the authority to ask a very broad range of questions, here is a list of 20 possible questions that may come up. Why are you traveling to the U.S.? Do you have any relatives in the U.S.? Have you ever applied for a U.S. visa

What Do You Need to Get a Visa for the USA?

April 22, 2019

In order to be issued a U.S. visa, you must apply directly through either the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. All applicants are required to fill out a DS 160 online application and pay the visa processing fee. The fee depends on

What Questions Will the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City Ask My Vietnamese Fiance During Their Interview?

April 18, 2019

When your Vietnamese fiance undergoes his or her interview at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City for a K-1 visa, the interviewing consular officer will ask him or her questions regarding your relationship. While the number of questions, as well as the amount of detail, will vary according

What is 2-Year Meeting Requirement?

April 12, 2019

One key requirement to qualify for the K-1 non-immigrant visa for when a United States Citizen, the petitioner, wants to sponsor a foreign partner to immigrate to the U.S., is that the citizen and foreign spouse must physically meet within 2 years prior to filing the I-129 Petition with the

Trump has no interest in addressing border issues or immigration reform

April 11, 2019

While this recent op-ed (opinion-editorial) article in the Los Angeles Times, focuses on President Trump and his ongoing war with the U.S. and Mexico border and its illegal immigration issues, the article points out that the Trump administration has, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), radically slowed the

U.S. Department of State Vietnam Visa Approvals for July, August, and September 2018

November 10, 2018

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released its visa issuance statistics for July, August and September 2018. Immigrant Visas For Vietnamese nationals, a total 2,637 immigrant visas were issued in July; 3,836 were issued in August; and 2,393 were issued in September. July: Only 83 of the immigrant

Non-immigrant Visa

CATEGORY

Can I travel outside the U.S. and return after my I-829 is denied?

Regional Center Job Creation under the RIA

David Enterline receives I-829 Petition award for 2025 from IIUSA

What is a K-3 Visa and How is it Different from a CR-1/ IR-1 Visa?

Priority Processing for Investments Made In Rural Areas